Thick, white clouds surround us almost as if we are floating above them. All the concrete of the city have disappeared beneath us, under that layer of marshmallow white clouds. There are only the soothing sounds of chanting prayers echoing in the distance. At 3,099 meters above sea level, all we se[...]
"Welcome to our home,” said Vivian, our guide for the day. Vivian grew up here in Masiphumelele, a township at the edge of Kommetjie and far from the glitz and glamour of Cape Town. Like the other 45,000 people living here, her parents and grandparents had c[...]
One of the things that drew me to Riviera Maya was its multitude of jungles and cenotes (underground sinkholes), offering the perfect setting for some blood-rushing extreme activities. While traveling with Riviera Maya Tourism Board on a Mexico road trip, I had the opportunity to join Alltourna[...]
Millions of translucent white jellyfish dance and sway all around me, their short springy tentacles bobbing melodically in a synchronized rhythm, as if to welcome me into their world. This secret underworld must be one of the most magical places I’ve ever been -- as there[...]
A self-drive safari in South Africa can be an excellent way to see the wildlife at your own pace, on your own terms. Covered in nothing more than gravel stones, the road ahead of us did not look like something our tiny Kia Picanto could handle. There were no signs and the road winded ahead as far as[...]
Getting to Bazaruto Island, Mozambique, was an experience on its own. Onboard a light aircraft, we flew over the spearmint blue water off the sparkling coast of Vilanculos, past hundreds of submerged atolls, to get to Indigo Bay. The sea was painted in striated strokes of beige and white, with sub[...]
Driving the Cape Peninsula was the highlight of our South Africa itinerary and we highly recommend it if you love a good road trip! The road hugs the cliff, meandering along the edge of the Table Mountain range all the way to Cape of Good Hope, the southwesternmost tip of Africa. On[...]
Out on the brackish water, two enormous heads bobbed on the surface. We cruised nearer for a closer look. Two teenage elephants emerged from the water, their bulky bodies towering over our small boat. Flapping their ears, they moved swiftly towards the land. “They’re just swimming across the ri[...]
In this third edition of our ongoing photography series, I want to give some tips about a recurring situation when taking shots on the move. Travel photography is about being at the right place at the right time. But sometimes you might not have the time or the budget, so some good photography spots[...]
A round-up of some of the most dangerous places to travel at the moment. When travelling, danger comes packaged in a myriad of ways: copious amounts of poisonous snakes, an unfriendly militia, or sky-high crime rates. Maybe you’re looking for an adrenaline rush – or maybe you just want to know[...]
It was barely daylight when we set off from our apartment in Camps Bay to Gansbaai, a fishing village some two hours away from Cape Town, South Africa. This fishing town is most famous for its dense population of great white sharks. Although sleepy from the early rise, we were fueled by ex[...]
While in Guilin, China, we had the chance to visit Huang Yao, a 1,042-year-old town with beautifully-preserved remnants of the past. The time-warped, ancient city is a labyrinth of narrow streets and brick-laid houses, with giant marble paving the walkways and red lanterns hanging from the ceilings.[...]
This is the second edition of our photography series: My first post explained the basic elements of photography: exposure, aperture and shutter speed; in this second post, I want to talk about photo composition, which is probably the most important aspect of a good picture. Sometimes the beauty of[...]
One of the highlights of our trip to China was rice planting in Yangshuo and getting to know a local farmer and his family. Be sure to add this to your China itinerary! “Is this your first time planting rice?” said our host Mr Pan, a farmer from the rural outskirts of Yangshuo, Guilin. The grey[...]
A look at the world's tallest Buddha Statue in Leshan! It's an impressive sight that should be included in your China itinerary. World's Tallest Buddha Statue In our recent two-week trip to China, we had really wanted to explore more of Sichuan not just for the spicy foods the province is famous[...]
Our trip to North Korea was truly insightful and eye-opening. Here, we share our experience and answer all your questions on how to travel North Korea. Since our return from North Korea, we’ve been swamped by questions from readers who are all curious about the Hermit Kingdom. Rightfully so, sinc[...]
After six months of intensive traveling and working on the road, we’re now back at our home base in Granada, Spain, dizzy from the high of traveling and drained from juggling our crazy travel schedule and workload. It’s been quite a journey as we hopped from one country to the next, working[...]
We have just returned from North Korea (or more formally known as Democratic Republic of Korea) after spending the past five days making our way around the capital of Pyongyang to the ancient city of Kaesong and the DMZ border with South Korea. Although we’ve barely scraped the surface of the coun[...]
From the majestic Great Wall of China to the poignant remnants of the Berlin Wall, these iconic barriers tell stories of division, defense, and cultural significance. Here’s a guide to the world’s most famous walls.
Flying to Bagan is like descending into a lost world: thousands of ochre stupas sprawl across the plains amidst wilting Acacia trees and whirlpools of brown earth. Wispy clouds hang low, shrouding the landscape in an eerie yet dreamy setting. Some of the best Bagan temples are those hidden from the[...]
For those seeking an aesthetically pleasing and museum-filled getaway, this list of artistic cities around the world is for you.
We often receive emails with positive comments on our photos and questions on how to take better shots, so I'm here to share with you what I have learned over the years to help you get the most out of your camera. In this first photography article of our photography series, I’m going to explain t[...]
Having left Southeast Asia behind us, we've just arrived in Guilin, China - a laidback, tree-lined city hemmed by karst mountains, rice fields and winding rivers. Coming from the chaotic traffic-congested metropolis of Bangkok, we've warmly welcomed the transition and eased into the peaceful setting[...]
A look at how over-tourism is destroying beautiful Halong Bay in Vietnam. In Northern Vietnam, thousands of grottos and limestone cliffs dot the emerald waters of Halong Bay. Junk boats ply its water, against the natural backdrop of dark green rock formations shrouded in mist. The limestone in t[...]
After three weeks of traveling around the Philippines, we simply wanted to kick back for a few days in Crusoe-esque splendor – and on Sumilon Island we did just that. Located 10 km from Cebu island, it might be just a hop away from civilization but it sure felt like a world apart. Landing on the[...]
"Filipinos have always bonded through food,” said Ivan, “The best deals have been settled on the dining table.” With that, we began our journey into the Philippine culinary world. In Manila’s Binondo district, also known as Chinatown, we met up with our guide, Ivan Mandy, who co-owns Old Ma[...]
The air was thick with humidity. We followed the trail that snaked through the dense tropical foliage, pushing past thick molave leaves as we ventured further. “Shhh…” Our 18-year-old park ranger, Ijie, stopped us in our tracks and pointed at a branch hanging above our heads. There they were[...]
It's wet, it's wild and it's loud. Songkran festival is synonymous with massive water wars and street parties. In Thailand and many other parts of Southeast Asia, Songkran is celebrated as the traditional New Year’s Day. Traditionally, people celebrate by paying respects[...]
At the end of 2011, I spent a month traveling overland through South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia with G Adventures. This was definitely one of the best trips of my life: experiencing the backcountry of Southern Africa, camping out in the wild, meeting lifelong friends – all of which I[...]
One of my favorite travel experiences of all time: swimming with whale sharks in Cebu, the Philippines. Read about our experience here. In the far distance came a spray of water and the faint outline of an enormous animal resembling a whale. We watched in awe as it glided gently by the bow of a sma[...]